Nico Porteous was 16 years old when he won a bronze medal at the 2018 Winter Olympics.

That was just the beginning of his rising star.

He was named Sportsman of the Year award at the 2022 Halberg awards on the back of his incredible Olympic gold medal in the halfpipe at the Beijing 2022 Winter Games.

Now at the age of 23, he has retired.

In this raw and revealing conversation, Nico opens up about what it really takes to get to the top- not just the training and pressure, but also the personal sacrifices, mental health battles, and the toll on his body and mind.

We discuss the bittersweet decision to step away from competitive skiing, the impact of injury, and what it means to retire on his own terms.

This is a story about growth, gratitude, and self-discovery, from the top of the podium to the start of a whole new chapter.

I first met Nico at the very start of his career, so it was really cool to connect with him at the very end. And it was even cooler to see he hadn’t rally changed- he is still impeccably polite and well-mannered and totally ego-free. Nico is a proud New Zealander who has made me proud to be a New Zealander, so this was a huge honor.

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Massive thanks to my long-term podcast sponsors, Generate.

Generate is an award-winning KiwiSaver provider with a track record of delivering strong long-term returns for their clients- you can see their latest returns for yourself on their website.

I became a client when they came on board as the show sponsor and it’s been a gamechanger for me personally- I’m kicking myself for not doing it years earlier.

You can book a no obligation chat with one of their awesome KiwiSaver advisers at generatekiwisaver.co.nz/dom

The issuer of the scheme is Generate Investment Management Limited. To see their Product disclosure statement see generatekiwisaver.co.nz/pds

Past performance does not guarantee future returns.

And just a reminder — I’m a podcast host, not a financial adviser, so this is just general advice. I recommend getting expert advice before making any financial decisions.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Wayne Larden is the Race Director of the TCS Sydney Marathon.

If you’re running Sydney this year or have it on your bucket list to run one day, this episode is a must listen.

He’s been in the role for over 20 years, and in that time, he’s turned the event from a small fun run with about 1,200 people into a world-class marathon with 35,000 runners – including the GOAT himself, Eliud Kipchoge.

Honestly, it’s hard to think of anyone who’s done more for running in Australia than “Lardy.”

In this chat, we talk about what it takes to put on a massive event like this – the behind-the-scenes chaos, the planning, the pressure, and the payoff. We also get into how he landed Kipchoge, what becoming a World Marathon Major actually means and where he hopes to take the event in the future, including advice for Kiwis hoping to get a spot in Sydney next year.

Whether you're a runner, race nerd, or event junkie, this chat is full of grit, laughs, and real insight into the global running boom from an Aussie legend who has seen and done it all.

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Huge thanks to my friends at Radix for sponsoring this episode.

There instant breakfasts must be sampled to understand just how good they are.

You can literally just tear the bag open, pour water in and eat. That one meal will give you 21g of protein and 1 and a half of your 5-a-day.

It will fill you, you will feel good…and most importantly it tastes INCREDIBLE. Did I mention its healthy too? I knock back a breakfast before a long run and it keeps me going for hours.

Check Radix out for yourself at

https://radixnutrition.co.nz/

And use the code DOM for 15% of everything in the store

Try it once and I promise you’ll be a fan for life.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Courtney Duncan is a four-time world motocross champion.

In this revealing conversation, Courtney opens about the toughest chapter of her life: being diagnosed with a heart condition: pericarditis, and how that forced her to completely reevaluate her approach to racing, health, and life.

We also talk about the emotional rollercoaster of winning her first world title, what it meant after years of setbacks, near misses, and heartbreak.

And the pressure that followed. Because sometimes, reaching the top is only the beginning.

This is a conversation about more than just sport—it’s about resilience, identity, and what it really takes to chase your dreams.

Whether you’re a fan or just learning about Courtney for the first time, I think you’ll love this episode.

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Massive thanks to my long-term podcast sponsors, Generate.

If I could ask you to do one big favour, for me and for yourself, it would be to consider getting KiwiSaver advice from Generate, like I did.

The decisions you make with your KiwiSaver now could have a big impact on how much you have to live on in retirement.

And if you’ve never had KiwiSaver advice before, you could be missing out.

Generate has a strong track record of long-term performance. You can check out their latest returns on their website.

They also have advisers who can come to you and help you figure out the right KiwiSaver setup for your goals: no pressure, just good advice.

I met with one when Generate came on board as a sponsor back in 2023 and honestly, I wish I’d done it sooner.

Head to generatekiwisaver.co.nz/dom to book a chat

The issuer of the scheme is Generate Investment Management Limited. To see their Product disclosure statement see generatekiwisaver.co.nz/pds Past performance does not guarantee future returns.

And just a reminder — everyone’s situation is different, so I recommend getting expert advice before making any financial decisions.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ben Parua grew up surrounded by violence, addiction, gangs and trauma.

Then when he was fifteen, he was sentenced to five and a half years in jail for being an accomplice to a manslaughter of an elderly man.

It was while incarcerated at Waikeria prison in the central north Island that he got introduced to farming. A career that has changed his life and put him on a road to redemption.

Last year he was named Maori farmer of the year and was also a finalist for the Kiwi Bank New Zealander of the year.

He is a powerful force for good- helping others walk away from the life he once lived.

And he is also a Tik-Toker with 82,000 followers- give him a follow at @FarmUpNZ

This is a brutally honest conversation that some might find alarming. Some of the ground we cover includes:

+ His early years growing up around gangs.

+ His introduction to drugs while still at primary school

+ The night in 2011 which cost an elderly man his life

+ Reflections on his time in jail.

+ Rebuilding himself

+ His relationship with the brother of his victim.

+ The people who gave him a second chance.

+ What it's like to be judged forever by the public and so much more.

Ben speaks with unfiltered honesty about his past, not to glorify it, but to offer hope: proof that no matter how broken you are, it’s never too late to change.

This conversation is emotional. It’s uncomfortable at times. But it’s also uplifting, redemptive, and deeply human.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Bubbah is the household name, face and voice in NZ as Tina from the Turners Cars commercials (one of New Zealand’s most iconic ad campaigns in recent years).

Tina’s real name is Bubbah. Actually, that’s not entirely accurate.

Her real name is Sieni Tiani Leo’o Olo. But because that is the same name as her grandmother, she was given the family nickname Bubbah as a toddler, and it has stuck.

This is a rare and wide-ranging conversation and Bubbah open’s like never before.

+ We talk about her upbringing in a busy South Auckland household of 17 people. And how roasting is her family’s love language.

+ Why she is turning her back on the spotlight and leaving New Zealand to move to Samoa fulltime.

+ The whole back story about Tina from Turners and how it’s changed her life.

+ Her unlikely friendship formed on Celebrity Treasure Island with Christian Cullen.

+ Why she avoids social media, her views on cancel culture and so much more.

This conversation has a bit of everything. It’s unpredictable, funny, moving, and real. Bubbah- unfiltered and unforgettable.

In 250 episodes I’ve never met anyone like Bubbah! I think she’s awesome. I love her perspective on life, and I hope you do too.

***

Massive thanks to my long-term podcast sponsors, Generate.

Generate is an award-winning KiwiSaver provider with a track record of delivering strong long-term returns for their clients- you can see their latest returns for yourself on their website.

I became a client when they came on board as the show sponsor and it’s been a gamechanger for me personally- I’m kicking myself for not doing it years earlier.

You can book a no obligation chat with one of their awesome KiwiSaver advisers at generatekiwisaver.co.nz/dom

The issuer of the scheme is Generate Investment Management Limited. To see their Product disclosure statement see generatekiwisaver.co.nz/pds

Past performance does not guarantee future returns.

And just a reminder — I’m a podcast host, not a financial adviser, so this is just general advice. I recommend getting expert advice before making any financial decisions.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Steve Braunias is one of New Zealand’s most well-known and respected writers and journalists, known for his dry wit and ability to blend sharp observation with emotional

depth. (thanks for that Chat GPT!)

Thousands of Kiwis are fans of Steve’s work, whether its one of his 14 books or columns that he has written for almost every newspaper or magazine in New Zealand. But this very rare podcast appearance may be a side of Steve Braunias that has never been seen before.

We talk about everything from aging and anxiety to family, food, and the strange comfort of public transport- Steve is 65 and has never held a driver’s license.

There’s reflection, vulnerability, a few incredibly emotional moments – and plenty of signature Braunias dry humor.

This is the first time we met. I wasn’t sure how we would get on (because I find him quite intimidating (just because of his superior intellect and his way with words).

But I really enjoyed our conversation, and I hope you do too.

***

Massive thanks to my long-term podcast sponsors, Generate.

If I could ask you to do one big favour — for me and for yourself — it would be to consider getting KiwiSaver advice from Generate, like I did.

The decisions you make with your KiwiSaver now could have a big impact on how much you have to live on in retirement. And if you’ve never had KiwiSaver advice before, you could be missing out.

Generate has a strong track record of long-term performance — You can check out their latest returns on their website.

They also have advisers who can come to you and help you figure out the right KiwiSaver setup for your goals — no pressure, just good advice.

I met with one when Generate came on board as a sponsor back in 2023 — and honestly, I wish I’d done it sooner.

Head to generatekiwisaver.co.nz/dom to book a chat

The issuer of the scheme is Generate Investment Management Limited. To see their Product disclosure statement see generatekiwisaver.co.nz/pds Past performance does not guarantee future returns.

And just a reminder — everyone’s situation is different, so I recommend getting expert advice before making any financial decisions.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Steve Braunias is one of New Zealand’s best known and most loved writers.

He has spent decades journaling New Zealand life with a writing style and turn of phrase that is unlike anyone else.

On top of regular columns for newspapers and magazines he has written 14 books.

In his latest book, Polkinghorne: The Trial of the Century, he turns his attention to one of the country’s most fascinating and disturbing court trials.

Steve sat through every minute of every day of the nine-week High court trial, taking in everything that was going on,

In this episode, Steve shares his thoughts on Philip Polkinghorne after spending over two months watching him, hearing every detail of his life and even having various one on one conversations with him in and around court.

We talk about the personal toll of writing about human tragedy, his process, his regrets, and the moral dilemmas that come with telling these sorts of stories.

The next episode of the Dom Harvey Podcast will be more of a standard podcast episode where we get to deconstruct the intriguing life and career of Steve Braunias. But this one here is the section of our podcast that focused exclusively on Polkinghorne- the book, the trial and the man himself.

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Massive thanks to my long-term podcast sponsors, Generate.

Generate is an award-winning KiwiSaver provider with a track record of delivering strong long-term returns for their clients- you can see their latest returns for yourself on their website.

I became a client when they came on board as the show sponsor and it’s been a gamechanger for me personally- I’m kicking myself for not doing it years earlier.

You can book a no obligation chat with one of their awesome KiwiSaver advisers at generatekiwisaver.co.nz/dom

The issuer of the scheme is Generate Investment Management Limited. To see their Product disclosure statement see generatekiwisaver.co.nz/pds

Past performance does not guarantee future returns.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Josh Komen first appeared on the podcast in July 2022 and since then we have become good friends.

So, when he asked to come on the podcast again, of course I said yes.

Josh is such an epic human. He has been through so much and is one of the most positive and grateful humans I’ve ever met. Every time we connect, I leave the interaction feeling better about myself. So, I hope you guys get the same feeling after checking out this episode.

At 23, Josh Komen was once one of New Zealand’s fastest 800m runners chasing dreams of going to the Commonwealth Games, until life threw him the ultimate curveball: a leukaemia diagnosis that would change everything. Not once, but twice. And a bunch of heart attacks as well!

This is a small part of the Josh Komen story.

If you've ever felt broken, lost, or unsure of how to keep going. This conversation will remind you that even in the darkest moments, there is light.

Thanks to these guys for sponsoring Josh: https://profitabletradie.com/

And follow Josh here: https://www.joshkomen.com/

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.